Automatic circulating system for steam-boilers.



No. 655,592. Patented Aug. 7, I900. C. C. UPHAM. AUTOMATIC CIBCULATING SYSTEM FOR STEAM BOILERS.

(Application filed. Mn. 3, 1899.)

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WITNESSES mmou, u. c w: wams PEYERS co. woroumo. wAsn thvrrn STATES CHARLES C. UPHAM, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATlC ClRGULATiNG-SYSTEM FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 655,592, dated August '7', 1900.

Application filed March 3, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circulating Systems for Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objectis to take the waterfrom a steamboiler while in operation, free it from impurities, incidentally avoiding detrimental loss of temperature, and return the purified water to the boiler.

Generally stated, theinvention consists in taking water by a conduit from the boiler near the water-level, discharging it into a precipitating-tank having a partition therein extending from one end nearly to the opposite end thereof, in which tank the impurities are trapped and where the water is maintained at a high temperature, and then returning the purified water to the boiler below the water-level, the circulation being effected by the entering feed-water.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a means of carrying the invention into effect, in which Figures 1 and 2 are views in elevation, partly in section, displaying two different forms of embodiment of my invention; and Fig. 3 is a view in sectional plan taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a steam-boiler of any preferred style, and B a circulating-pipe which may be arranged either on the exterior or on the interior of the boiler, as may be preferred, the first-named arrangem ent being shown in Fig. 1 and the lastnamed in Fig. 2. The upper end I) of the pipe B is submerged in the water of the boiler, and its lower end 12 discharges into a precipitating-tank 0, located at any convenient point near the bottom of the boiler and removed from the heat thereof. D is an entering feed -water pipe forming, in connection with the circulating-pipe B, an inductorE F, a diaphragm or partition dividing the precipirating-tank into two parts and reaching from one end of the tank to within a short distance Serial No. 707,670. (No model.)

of the other end, thereby to separate the infiowing water fromthe outflowing; G, a second circulatingpipe, which may be arranged either as shown in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 2, as may be preferred, and connecting the precipitating-tank O with the interior of the boiler and terminating, as shown in Fig. 1, with a deflecting-cap H, and I, Fig. 1, a casing or protecting covering inclosing that portion of the circulating-pipe B with which the products of combustion come into direct contact.

As shown in Fig. 1, the circulating-pipe B has its upper end I) connected by a joint with the vertical external portion of the pipe B, this latter portion extending, in this instance, downward and connecting with the precipitating-tank O and the latter by the pipev G with the interior of the lower portion of the boiler.

In Fig. 2 the external portion of the pipe B, as shown in Fig. 1, is dispensed with, and this pipe extends downward below the lower portion of the boiler and is joined by a branch pipe 5 with the precipitating-tank, and the latter, through the pipe 1 back into the boiler, the terminating portion of this pipe I being provided with a collar or section 1 of pipe of larger diameter than the pipe B, thereby forming a passage through which the water can escape to the interior of the boiler. In this latter instance the inductor E is on the branch pipe b and, with the inductor, connects the feed-Water pipe D, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: The boiler being ready for a supply of feedwater, a feed-pump (not shown and which connects with the pipe D) is started and water is forced through the pipe D and inductor E into the lower portion 19 of the circulatingpipe B. In action the inductor draws into the circulating-pipe B a large volume of water previously heated in the boiler to a temperature corresponding to the pressure of the steam. The feed-water and the circulating water being thoroughly commingled and the circulating water being greatly in excess of the feed-water, the temperature of the feedwater is at once raised nearly to that of the water in the boiler and so enters the boiler through the pipe G after passing through the tank C. By this manner of feeding corro= sion will not take place in the boiler at or near the discharge of the feed-water, as is usual, for the reason that the oxygen in the feed-water, due to the rise of temperature, has been eliminated before entering the boiler. The circulating-pipe B, having its upper end I) only a few inches below the surface of the water in the boiler and offering, as it does, a free and uninterrupted path for the descent of the water in circulation, causes a rapid movement of the water at the surface from all directions toward or into the orifice of the circulating-pipe, carrying with it any floating lighter portions of organic matter, and such matter is carried down into the precipitating-tank, where it is deposited in comparatively-still water. The feed-water being raised by commingling with it the circulating water to a temperature as high as 300 Fahrenheit at the inductor, the compounds of lime and magnesium are at once rendered insoluble, pass with the water down into the precipitating-tank, where they settle in the slow-moving water, and are deposited in the bottom of the tank, whence they may be blown ofi from time to time in the form of mud or by an ordinary blow-pipe, as usual.

That which difierentiates this system from those in common use is that it is continuous in operation and requires no attention from the fireman or engineer, the only duty devolving upon the fireman being to keep Sllfficient feed-water supplied to the boiler from the pump.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with a steam-boiler, of a precipitating-tank, a partition arranged Within the tank and extending from one end thereof to within a short distance of the other end, a circulating-pipe having its upper end submerged below the operative water-level of the boiler and its lower end tapped into the said tank at the end to or against which the partition-is secured and to one side thereof, a second circulating-pipe having one end tapped into the same end of the tank as the first circulatingpipe, but on the opposite side of the partitiomand its other end discharging into the lower portion of the boiler, and an entering feed-water pipe connecting with the first circulating-pipe, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a steam-boiler, of a precipitatingtank, a partition arranged within the tank and extending from one end thereof to within a short distance of the other end, a circulating-pipe having its upper end submerged below the operative water-level of the boiler and its lower end tapped into the said tank at the end to or against which the partition is secured and to one side thereof, a second circulating-pipe having one end tapped into the same end of the tank as the first circulating-pipe, but on the opposite side of the partition, and its other end discharging into the lower portion of the boiler, an entering feed-water pipe, and an inductor, in the nature of an injector, connecting the entering feed-water pipe and the first circulating-pipe, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a steam-boiler, of a precipitating-tank, a partition arranged within the tank and extending from one end thereof to within a short distance of the other end, a circulating-pipe having its upper end submerged below the operative water-level of the boiler, and its lower end tapped into the said tank at the end to or against which the partition is secured and to one side thereof, a second circulating-pipe having one end tapped into the same end of the tank as the first circulating pipe, but on the opposite side of the partition, and its other end discharging into the lower portion of the boiler, a deflecting-cap carried by the discharge end of this second pipe, an entering feed-water pipe, and an inductor, in the nature of an injector, connecting the entering feed-water pipe with the first circulating-pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES C. UPHAM. WVitnesses:

B. LEADLEY, Gus SAUER. 

